I wish I can fetch my in-laws to my place to stay but my house is really small. No room for them. The last time wehn my mother-in-law was sick and we fetched my in-laws back here so I can better look after them, my father-in-law complained that my place too small and he's very uncomfortable. So when my mu MIL recovered, he was grinning from ear to ear and can't wait to go back home. I really think the government is talking rots when they say must look after the elderly and stay with them. How to when HDB flats are only getting smaller.

In the olden days.....probably 60's or 70's our parents used to stay in big kampong houses, where the kitchen itself was as big as our 4 room flats.

The older generations called HDB flats as pigeon holes. It's a pity, it's getting smaller and smaller. The elderly especially those age 70 and above may find it miserable to stay inside the flat. Thats why they feel happier gathering on the void decks or coffee-shops for chit chats. If they are sick, of course it's worse.

The working adults in Punggol North may be plus/minus 30 0r 35.....? In 20/25 years time , these group will retire and become elderly. Time flies........and only recently, the authorities begins to wake up and went to Japan and elsewhere to study how to tackle the problem. is it late ? If it is, they had to speed up multifold to look into ways to cater for them.

Although Punggol North residents were relatively young, in most afternoons we still can see elderly people gathered on the void decks.

Last Sunday after grocery rounds, I happen to walk past 176 function hall. It was crowded, people were singing, a TCM van was parked outside. Inside the hall, MP Penny with grassroot leaders were at a gathering for the elderly. In fact it was a Senior Citizen with TCM Gathering conducted by the Punggol 21 CC.

I stood there for a while and listen to a speech by MP Penny. She specifically mention, when she was in China visiting, she came across old people in parks, singing, dancing, exercising happily in most afternoons. She hope to see similar gatherings in Punggol North so that our residents, not only elderly, can interact, live happily, and know each other well.

Personally, I feel our elderly should join the Punggol North Senior Citizen Club. There are outings, excursions and many other related activities. It's chair person is compassionate and very friendly towards elderly. She was also involved with giving free TCM to elderly people and also with charity. At this typical event, medical consultation, medicine and accuputure was administered free for those needly patients present.